SYLVICULTURE 



from bleeding and allows to remove the product cut before the ap- 

 pearance of new shoots without injuring the stumps. 



Cutting in fall subjects the stumps to frost-cracks and to bark- 

 blistering; it causes the new fleshy shoots to appear early in spring, 

 at the season of prevailing late frosts. 



Accessibility of the locality at the proposed season of cutting 

 and availability of local labor further determine the season of 

 cutting. 



VIII. Reinforcing: Where the number of stumps is or becomes 

 deficient, there the owner may plant seedlings or stump-plants to 

 replenish the growing stock. 



B. Root suckers: Cottonwood, Willow, Locust, Alder, some 

 Elms and Maples, after European experience even Liriodendron (?) 

 form root suckers, especially on porous soil. The suckers are in- 

 creased by locally uncovering the surface roots. They might be 

 severed from the stem and planted when two or three years old; 

 but this is expensive. Gardeners often use pieces of roots, say ten 

 inches long and finger-thick, for propagating broad-leaf species in 

 good soil. An observer in F. and T., May, 1904, claims to have found 

 that Fir and Spruce in the Presidential Range of the White Moun- 

 tains propagate their kind by the natural and unaided formation of 

 suckers developing from long, horizontal roots. 



C. Layers: A low, long branch of a standing tree is partly 

 buried in a trench one-half foot deep, held in place by hooks, pins or 

 stones, the end of the branch protruding above ground. The branch 

 thus imbedded forms roots and shoots. The latter are severed from 

 each other a year or two before planting in the open. 



Layering is a gardener's method only locally used in parks. At 

 very high altitudes, under the influence of very great atmospheric 

 moisture, the low Spruce branches naturally form roots and shoots 

 in a similar manner. 



D. Cuttings: Willows and Poplars are usually propagated by 

 "cuttings," viz.: pieces of branches one foot long and two years old, 

 tipped with a piece one year old. The cuttings are inserted obliquely, 

 the tips barely showing above ground. Planting dagger or turning 

 plow are the tools used. Care must be taken to prevent the bark 

 from peeling off. It is claimed that the constant use of cuttings 

 causes a deterioration of growth. Cuttings of sapling size taken from 

 strong and long branches are also planted in good nursery soil for a 

 number of years and planted in the open ground after catching root. 

 Willows and Poplars allow of heavy trimming. Among conifers, only 

 Sequoia permits the use of cuttings. It is claimed that Sequoia-chips 

 sprout successfully in the moist climate of the Coast Range. 



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